Designing and building our very own miniature playground.

Have you ever wanted to design and build your own playground? Well, that's exactly what Year 5 (Talland Class) did! We combined our creativity and teamwork skills to build a miniature playground using everyday craft materials. From slides and swings to tunnels and merry-go-rounds, we crafted our very own zoo-themed playground using lollipop sticks, matchsticks, straws, cocktail sticks, pipe cleaners, and other materials. And guess what? We even used tools like a mitre saw, scissors, and rulers to get everything just right!

1. Measuring and Marking We used rulers to measure out our pieces of materials. This was super important because it made sure that everything fit together just right. If we wanted our slide to be tall enough, we had to measure the correct length for the lollipop sticks. Using a pencil, we marked where we needed to cut and assemble the pieces. The more careful we were with our measurements, the better our playground would turn out!

2. Cutting with Tools Here’s where things got a little tricky but exciting. We used scissors for cutting some of the softer materials, like straws and pipe cleaners. However, for tougher materials like the lollipop sticks and matchsticks, we used a mitre saw (don’t worry, it’s safe for us with a teacher around!). The mitre saw helped us make sure our cuts were straight and precise, which is super important for building sturdy structures.

Finally Our themed playgrounds project was a huge success for Talland Class! Not only did we learn how to use tools like rulers, scissors, and a mitre saw, but we also developed skills in teamwork, creativity, and problem-solving. Building our own playground gave us a sense of achievement and pride, and we can’t wait for our next big project. So, if you’re ever looking to build something amazing, grab some craft materials, measure carefully, and start designing your own playground today. Who knows? You could even create a zoo or a space adventure—anything your imagination can dream up!

best wishes, Mrs Swabey, Mr Parry and Mrs Walters.

w/e 23.5.25

As we approach the half-term break, we're excited to share the enriching activities and learning experiences your children have engaged in this week.

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English: Crafting Imaginary Worlds

This week, our English lessons transported students into the realm of creative writing. They crafted stories set in imaginative worlds, employing figurative language and expanded noun phrases to bring their narratives to life. This exercise not only enhanced their descriptive writing skills but also encouraged them to explore the depths of their imagination.

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Mathematics: Exploring Fractions and Decimals

In Year 3, students focused on comparing unit fractions and fractions with identical denominators. They learned that among unit fractions, the larger the denominator, the smaller the fraction, and practiced ordering them accordingly.

Year 4 students delved into the world of decimals. They connected hundredths to tenths and place value, extending their understanding of the number line to link fractions, numbers, and measure.

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Geography: The Spread of Christianity in Anglo-Saxon Britain

Our geography lessons explored the historical spread of Christianity during the Anglo-Saxon era. Students learned about key figures like St. Augustine, who began converting influential Anglo-Saxon leaders such as King Ethelbert of Kent around 595 AD, leading to significant cultural and religious transformations in Britain. 

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PSHE: Understanding and Addressing Bullying

In PSHE, the focus was on recognising bullying and understanding appropriate responses. Students discussed various scenarios, learning strategies to address and prevent bullying, fostering a supportive and respectful school environment.

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Design and Technology: Castle Construction Day

A highlight of the week was our Design and Technology day, where students designed and built model castles. They incorporated features such as turrets, towers, flags, and drawbridges, using materials like cardboard and recycled items. This hands-on activity allowed them to apply their knowledge of 2D and 3D shapes creatively. 

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Special Events:

Excitement filled the air with the opening of the new KS1 playground. Each child received a lunchbox and water bottle to celebrate this occasion. 

Additionally, students enjoyed sharing reading sessions with Tregantle class outdoors, taking advantage of the sunny weather.

We also hosted an online author workshop with Neill Cameron, known for "Donut Squad." Students enthusiastically participated, designing their own characters and gaining insights into the creative process of comic book creation. 

We also enjoyed a Dance for Dementia alongside Archie! 

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We look forward to welcoming the students back after the break, refreshed and ready for more learning adventures.

This week, Seaton class enjoyed using the microbits in their computing lesson. They showed off their coding skills by making different sounds and light patterns. 

Today Seaton class enjoyed their reading with Daymer class. It was wonderful to see them sharing books and enjoying the wonderful grounds we have. 

Nail painting!

Today was break the rules day so we ended it by painting our nails. Everyone joined in and I enjoyed seeing the different colours. A fun end to the half term!

Great Gardeners! 

What a wonderful final week we’ve had in Tregantle Class before the half-term break! The children have been busy, creative, and full of enthusiasm as we've rounded off a brilliant few weeks of learning. To bring our storytelling to life, we’ve been exploring the magical tale of Jack and the Beanstalk. Inspired by Jack’s adventure, the children planted their very own beans! We discussed what plants need to grow and each child carefully potted a bean to take care of. We can’t wait to see which ones grow as tall as the beanstalk in our story! Our young writers also put their skills to the test, producing some fantastic sets of instructions on how to plant a bean. From neat handwriting to clear step-by-step guidance, we were so impressed by the effort and thought that went into their work. Budding authors in the making! In PE, we had tremendous fun playing 'popcorn' – a game using the parachute and lots of bouncing balls! It was brilliant to see such great teamwork, energy, and laughter as everyone took part and encouraged each other.  To top off the week, we were treated to a very special music session with our music specialist, Sally Butlin. The children had a brilliant time exploring rhythms and sounds, and their enthusiasm for making music was infectious. A huge thank you to Sally for such a joyful and engaging session. We’re so proud of all the children for their hard work and enthusiasm this half term.
Have a lovely break, and we look forward to seeing you all refreshed and ready for more adventures next half term! 

  Lights, Camel, Action!

This week, we’ve been putting on our reporter hats and learning how to create a news report—and the subject we covered was the desert biome. Desert biomes are fascinating places, and they have so much to teach us about how plants, animals, and even people survive in such an extreme environment. We learned how people use the desert in very unique ways, for instance, the military to fly supersonic fighter aircraft. Not only did we learn about the desert, but we also got to use video techniques to create our very own news reports. We used a range of techniques which included close-up, panning shot and long shot.

This week in French, we've been learning some super useful phrases that you can use every day, especially when you're talking about things around your home! Whether it's in the kitchen, the living room, or even the garden, these French phrases will help you talk about all the places and things you see in your house, for example: Les Phrases de la Maison (House Phrases) When you talk about your house in French, it’s really helpful to know a few key phrases to get started. Here are some that we’ve learned: Où est… ? (Where is…?) Voici ma maison. (Here is my house.) Ma chambre est… (My room is…) Il y a… (There is…) Je suis dans… (I’m in…)

Great job this week, Talland Class! You’ve learned some really useful skills in video camera usage, you understand how people make use of the barren land of the desert and are able to use some French phrases to talk about your home, and now you can practice using them to describe the rooms and things around you. Keep practicing, and soon you’ll be able to talk about everything in French—right from your own house! Keep up the fantastic work, and remember: Pratiquez, pratiquez, pratiquez! (Practice, practice, practice!) À bientôt (See you soon - after half term)!

best wishes, Mrs Swabey, Mr Parry and Mrs Walters.